Ma Petit Princesse (aph Marie Antoinette fic)

Mademoiselle, part 1

May, 1770

The large, grand carriage bumped and rolled on over the countryside, dodging thick clusters of trees to ensure the safety of its precious cargo. It thundered through old, dead leaves and rich clumps of moss to the border, then stopped suddenly. The footman, dressed in a uniform of bright, Austrian colors jumped off the back of the carriage, knocked on the door, loudly saying, "Archduchess Antoine! We have arrived at the border."

Francis stood attentively, barely remaining inside the French border, eager to meet his new Dauphine. After years of bloodshed, the Seven Years' War had ended and a peace document was to be signed. In order to restore relations with the Austrian Empire, France requested a Dauphine from the Royal Family. In 1766, Maria Theresa promised her 15th child, Maria Antonia, to be the young Dauphin, the King's grandson's, betrothed.

Francis felt like he shouldn't be so nervous, but he couldn't help it. He'd seen generations and generations of dauphines come across the border, come to Versailles -or to the Louvre Palace before Versailles was constructed-and live out their royal lives which sometimes ended in tragedy and sometimes in splendor, so it was only natural to be worried. But this was different; he felt a deep, ugly fear bubbling in his stomach for the future of his new princess. This feeling, however, faded when the carriage opened and a few ladies-in-waiting popped out, followed by who Francis assumed was the Dauphine and Roderich Edelstein, France's old rival.

Words could not describe the beauty of the petit princesse before him; her hair was the color of golden honey, her skin very pale with barely a blemish upon her face. Her eyes were cerulean and looked as if the sea itself was churning and whirling about inside them, and her frame was slight. She wore a pink Austrian-style dress and her hair lay down on her shoulders in loose curls.

The young girl, followed by her ladies and her country, crossed the wooded path to the edge of the border towards Countess Noailles. The Countess introduced herself and curtsied lowly to the princess, who in turn did the same.

"Hello," she smiled, outstretching her arms to hug the Countess heartily. Countess Noailles froze, stiffly returning the embrace. "It is so very nice to meet you."

'Her French,' Francis thought. 'Is atrocious. As are her court manners. They will improve in time, however. Let's just hope she doesn't greet the King in this way..."

After an appropriate amount of time, the Countess rather awkwardly pried herself off the princess and smoothed her thick skirts.

"Well then," Noailles began, huffing. "You sure do have a lot of...energy... It's best we get started. Let me present to you, Archduchess Maria Antonia Josepha Johanna of Habsburg, the human incarnation of your new country, Sir Francis Bonnefoy."

Antoine looked over the Countess's shoulder to see a tall, rather handsome, lanky man, his light blonde hair just beyond his shoulders tied neatly behind him with a blue ribbon, dressed stylishly in a silver suit and waistcoat. He moved across the border towards her, smiled when their eyes met and bowed gracefully in front of the young girl. With a dusty pink blush appearing on her cheeks, Antoine returned the expected curtsy. Francis laughed softly at her nervousness and bent down on one knee, took her hand gently in his, and kissed it sweetly.

"Tis a pleasure to finally meet you, ma petit Princesse."

She giggled at this and gave him a quick kiss on the forehead, to which Francis' eyes opened widely. Peering over the young girl's shoulder, Francis could see Roderich glaring piercingly at him. Francis, however, did not let this make him faulter; he simply looked back to the lady standing in front of him and smiled.

Standing up, Francis gave Antoine one last cheeky grin before looking to the embassy-official and signaling to begin the ceremony. The official nodded, then motioned for Antoine to stand beside her country. Roderich put a protective hand upon the young lady's shoulder, but indicated proceeding was quite alright.